The latest statistics on inbreeding and consanguineous marriages around the globe, as shared by World Population Review, may come as a surprise to some Malaysians.
This is because there is data showing the percentage of consanguineous marriages (marriages between individuals who are closely related, such as cousins or close relatives) in Malaysia, and the figure is quite unexpected.
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6% of marriages in Malaysia are between close relatives
Specifically, the data claimed that 6% of marriages in Malaysia are consanguineous, which placed the country 31st out of the 72 nations in the list.
Only data for another Southeast Asian nation, Cambodia, was available in the statistics, which also has a 6% rate.
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Pakistan has the highest percentage of consanguineous marriages
According to the statistics, Pakistan recorded the highest percentage of consanguineous marriages at 61.2%, followed by Kuwait (54.3%), Qatar (54%), the United Arab Emirates (50.5%) and Sudan (50%).
World Population Review elaborated that although rare in the Americas and modern Europe, consanguineous marriage is notably common in North Africa and the Middle East, where it is a traditional and respected aspect of many Arab and Muslim cultures.
In many countries, consanguineous marriages and inbreeding are considered illegal. Sexual relations between consanguineous couples are typically referred to as incest in these regions.
However, in Southeast Asia, first cousin marriages are allowed in most countries, notably Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
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So, what do you guys think of the statistics? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: Study: 45.8% of Malaysian Couples Take Out Personal Loans of Up to RM40k to Cover Wedding Expenses
